Bloemfontein — Uncover the Hidden Testimonies of the Concentration Camps

Your journey begins at the National Women's Memorial in Bloemfontein, inaugurated in 1913. This monument commemorates the 27,000 Boer women and children who died in British concentration camps between 1899 and 1902. President M.T. Steyn promoted its construction as early as 1902 at a conference in Bloemfontein, emphasizing the urgency of preserving memory. Here, you will see an Afrikaner woman holding her child and watching her husband go to war, flanked by an obelisk, a poignant testament to the sacrifice of an entire people in the Free State. This site, an Anglo-Boer War heritage site, is essential for understanding the suffering of this period.

Next, head to the Anglo-Boer War Museum, opened in 1931 and dedicated to the Second Anglo-Boer War. This museum houses the Garden of Remembrance, inaugurated in late November 2015, to honor all victims of the camps. In 2012, it published 'The Black Concentration Camps of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902' by Stowell Kessler, shedding light on the camps for the black population. The museum also documents the white refugee camps of Bloemfontein, established on September 22, 1900, after the city's capture in March 1900, and closed on January 3, 1903. This circuit offers an interactive tour of Bloemfontein's complex history.

Your journey then takes you to the Old Presidency, residence of the presidents of the Orange Free State from 1885 to 1902, including M.T. Steyn. This two-story Victorian building, constructed in 1885, witnessed Boer resistance during the war. Nearby is the historical site of the Bloemfontein Concentration Camp, where persistent problems with water supply and poor quality meat continued until its closure in 1903. This camp, transferred to civilian control on March 1, 1901, by Sir Alfred Milner, was one of 45 camps where mostly women and children perished, victims of disease. A walk through these places reveals the heritage of the Free State.

Continue your exploration to the Fourth Raadsaal, built in 1893, which served as the parliament of the Orange Free State until 1900. This red-brick Victorian-style building, approximately 1,500 m² in area, was a central government seat before and during the war. Not far, the Dutch Reformed Church in Bloemfontein, built in 1880 with its 50m high Twin Spires, was an Afrikaner spiritual center. It was here in 1902 that a conference, presided over by M.T. Steyn, decided on the construction of the National Women's Memorial. These monuments are pillars of Bloemfontein's history.

Finally, your memory circuit leads you to Hertzog Square, a central plaza named after J.B.M. Hertzog, a Boer commander and major political figure. This square, in the historical heart of Bloemfontein, connects the various Anglo-Boer War monuments you have explored. Concluding this exploration of Bloemfontein's forgotten voices, you gain not only a deep understanding of the suffering and resilience of the Boer people but also a unique perspective on the heritage of the Free State. This GPS treasure hunt has allowed you to discover historical sites and narratives often overlooked, enriching your Bloemfontein visit with a profound human and historical dimension.